Poetry and Trauma

Poetry and poetic expression through language, symbol, and story can be valuable in addressing the range and depth of traumatic experiences. The therapeutic benefits of poetry, story, and creative writing have been well documented in the professional literature. Poetry therapy is the use of language, symbol, and story in therapeutic, educational, and community-building capacities. The purview of poetry therapy includes bibliotherapy, narrative therapy, and journal therapy. The field of poetry therapy is interdisciplinary, drawing from the arts, psychology, medicine, social work, education, and counseling, and others. The underlying assumption of this entry is that the convergence of literary and therapeutic perspectives can be helpful in increasing our ability to access cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains of human experience, particularly as they relate to trauma. In this entry, Nicholas Mazza's integrative poetry therapy practice model will serve as a unifying framework in examining the therapeutic use of preexisting poetry, creative expression, and symbolic poetic activities.

A number of professionals, paraprofessionals, and volunteers provide services to those suffering from trauma. It is critical to recognize there is an interface of literary and therapeutic perspectives; however, anyone who uses poetry therapy must work within his or her professional boundaries. A poet, for example, may be invited into a shelter, Veterans Health Administration hospital, or hospice to teach poetry writing or read poetry to the clients and patients. The purpose in all likelihood is to provide support or education. However, in the exposure to poetic material and/or in the creation of a poem or story, there may be a therapeutic impact. The therapist, however, comes with the expressed intent of using poetry therapy for such purposes as validating feelings, providing an emotional release, reducing anxiety, enhancing communication, and restoring some sense of control.

The “natural healing aspects” of poetry and the related arts can be found in the artistic responses of survivors of terrorist attacks, school shootings, and natural disasters. The poet Gregory Orr, who experienced multiple traumatic events including his accidental killing of his younger brother during a hunting trip, wrote that poetry writing was central to his survival and transformation. Across events and cultures, the difficult journey from tragedy toward healing can be found in poetry. Poetry as a means to recovery does not mean that one is “finished” or has “closure” but rather speaks to a process of transformation through a life story. Poetry has the capacity to capture the seemingly contradictory process of letting go and living with the loss. This new story is consistent with both narrative therapy and poetry therapy. The capacity to externalize the problem and write one's own life story speaks to a poetic approach to life and loss.